His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa (born Nicholas Choreftakis) was born in Crete in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotelian University of Thessalonica. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa. From 1975-1985 he served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete, where he developed significant Preaching and Philanthropic activities (hostels for needy youth, etc). From 1985-1990 he served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia, based in Odessa during the tenure of Patriarchs Nicholas VI and Parthenios.

He established the Institution of Hellenic Culture and the Philiki Eterea Museum with 600 children, where they were taught a thorough knowledge of Greek. In 1990 he was ordained Bishop with the title of the formerly distinguished Diocese of Kyrene and was appointed as Representative of Patriarch Parthenios in Athens (1990-1997). He always accompanied Patriarch Parthenios on his travels throughout Africa and to many international, interfaith and Theological conferences. In 1997 he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by Patriarch Petros VII of blessed Memory, in order to assist him at the outset of his Patriarchate and after 10 months he was elected as Metropolitan of Cameroon. He greatly developed Missionary activity there. He built churches, schools and hospitals, helping many Africans and Hellenes. In 2002 he was transferred to the Holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe, where he established 4 Missionary centres in Harare, a Hellenic Cultural Centre for 400 delegates, 2 large Missionary centres in Malawi, with a hospital, technical schools and nursery schools. Aided by the Greek Parliament he renovated the Hellenic Square (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira, Mozambique. He founded churches and contributed to the establishment of the Hellenic Communities of Botswana and Angola.

On 9th October 2004 he was unanimously elected by the Synod of the Alexandrian Throne as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. The enthronement ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Annunciation in Alexandria, on Sunday October 24, 2004 in the presence of distinguished ecclesiastical & civilian representatives and great number of faithful. His general Missionary activity, as well as his affable character, are the reason behind the love felt towards him by all Africans, as well as by the communities of the Hellenes and Arabs of Egypt and All Africa.